HL Deb 03 December 1968 vol 298 cc4-5

2.38 p.m.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the announced French cuts in their contribution to the Concorde programme will affect the timing of the first flight of the Toulouse-built prototype; when they now expect that flight to take place; and when they now expect the Concorde to receive its Public Transport Certificate of Airworthiness.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the cut announced by the French Government of 60 million francs in the Concorde budget for 1969 is essentially a rephasing of payments and is not intended to reduce or slow down the actual programme of work next year. In any case 60 million francs represents less than 10 per cent. of the French budgetary provision for 1969. First flight remains planned for January next year, and certification of airworthiness for autumn 1972.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, as always, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply. Can he say whether there is any truth in the article in the Sunday Express last Sunday in which it was suggested that the British aircraft might now fly first on Christmas Day? Secondly, can he say in which particular areas of manufacture the French cuts will have effect? Can he say which particular parts of the aircraft are going to be affected; and how is it that a re-phasing of payments cannot affect the date of the first fight or the date of the production of the prototype, since, presumably, the suppliers are not going to supply the goods until they are paid for?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, first may I say that I am grateful for the noble Lord's gratitude. The noble Lord referred to an article in the Sunday Express. I put the same question to the people concerned and I was told that it was a lot of nonsense—the article, that is. As for the latter part of the noble Lord's supplementary question, there is no particular part of the work which is being held up; it is wholly a question of re-phasing the payment. I am told that the limiting factor is not a question of finance but a question of the technical work being done.